old gas torch kit

[paulmowers]

Hi Guys

Just wondered if anyone can remember a gas brazing set that was available years ago, probably in the 70's, it had a gas generator which worked like the old old cycle lamps, whereby a chemical powder had water drip on it to produce the fuel gas, it also had what looked like a little oxo bottle that had compressed air, refilled with the workshop air compressor. so you had a 2 pipe arrangement to the little torch with knobs like a proper ox ac torch but with only a regulator on the air bottle, the whole thing was the size of a portapack kit.
Can't remember what it was called or who made it.
Cutting plate with my plasma cutter using compressed air reminded me of it.

paul..

 

[Paul.]

It sounds like it was a water to carbide acetylene generator, much older than 70s though, the gas had to be put through a hydraulic back pressure valve to prevent flashback in to the generator, BOC used to market one, those were the days

 

[paulmowers]

Right so it was possibly the for runner of the portapac sets then as you say BOC sold them.
Yes carbide, thats what they were called, my dad had an old bike light which I messed up by putting washing soda in it, it looked similar to what was in there. I was only 4 or 5 at the time!!

Cheers Paul.

 

[shenion]

Must be real old.

In the '70s i had a small brazing set that used solid oxygen bricks you would light and they "burned" giving off o2.

Some cavers here still use Carbide lamps. I'll stick with my incandescent or LED headlamps. Would not want to rappel down a deep pit and take the chance of cutting the rope with the flame

 

[Paul.]

It was calcium carbide, CAC2, when it comes into contact with water H2o, it reacts and give off c2 h2 acetylene, there were two types of generator, water to carbide for making small amounts of gas, and carbide to water for larger volumes, considerable heat is generated by the reaction and it is a process which used to be controlled by a home office licence and needed qualified supervision, the raw gas is full of impurities and has to be filtered before use,
History lesson over

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

sorry to say this but I actually used one on my bicycle in the early 60's...

I once got pulled in by the police and when asked why I was carrying matches I said it was to light my bike lamp. It didn't go down too well until I showed him the lamp!

Regards
Peter